The effect of different mechanized site preparation methods on soi̇l properties and growth of stone pine seedlingsin Armutlu province, Yalova

Artificial rejuvenation work was carried out in 66.5 Ha forest area in Armutlu (Yalova) in 2014 and the and three different machine preparation methods (MAH) were applied during the land preparation stage of the studies. These methods; Pallet tractor (Caterpillar D7 Dozer) with where the slope is %0-40 full area cover cleaning and triple ripper soil processing, Pallet Tractor (Caterpillar D7 Dozer) with where the inclination is more than %40 full-land cover cleaning and wide terrace to make the soil processing, where slope is more than 60% soil cultivation with BUROR terrace with mini excavators. In the land where all three methods were applied; 18 experiment areas with same climate and elevation and altitude and soil characteristics were determined. In each trial area, the root collar diameter, length and number of lateral branches were measured in three replications after 1 year in seedlings of 1 + 0 years old pine (Pinus pinea) planted with the same origin. In addition, a total of 21 soil profiles were opened in each trial area and control parcel and soil samples were taken and analyses were performed. According to variance analyses; all three MAH methods affected soil properties and the soil dust rate and pH value decreased in all three MAH methods. Also, it was observed that conductivity values, organic matter content, nitrogen and phosphorus values increased in BUROR terrace method. In BUROR terraced areas; it was understood that the average height of seedlings reached the highest values due to the lack of cleaning of the living cover and the transportation of the mineral rich soil to the terraced place. BUROR terrace method has been determined as a preferable method because it was both economic and less damaging to nature. This method can be used in fast growing species afforestation and species with high plant spacing. It was also determined that very high potassium values, the lowest average seedling length, the highest root collar diameter and side branch number in the cover cleaning and triple ripper tillage method with the dozer. The amount of potassium and the number of side branches and sapling root collar diameter were found to be directly proportional BUROR terraces have been found to be the least damaging method for nature for artificial rejuvenation and afforestation works.